Changing Covers: Another Reasons Why I'm Scared of Sequels

It has struck again. Covers being changed mid-series.
Revealed today was the final book in Stephanie Perkins' quasi-series, Isla and the Happily Ever After. I don't mind the covers of Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door. Though they are a little cheesy for the story content really, they are cute too.
But this outbreak of changing covers mid-series has actually made me nervous and not excited for second and third books in series. I never know when a publishing house is going to release a cover but it be completely different for the most ridiculous reasons. The one I hate most is "We feel like this cover worked better with the story"....really?
When a book is being released in paperback from previously being hardback, I get it. That actually makes sense. Especially if the book has taken a dip in sales the new cover will hopefully catch another group of readers eye. But when the second or third book is released in hardback with different covers, well frankly, it sucks.
The majority of book lovers I know want their series to match. Even if you don't really care about that, it would be nice to have matching covers so that everyone can tell that books are a part of a series.
In this economy I cannot afford to by all the new covers to make sure my series matches. So now they are going to have a different look, and probably be a different size as well.

Anna and the French Kiss
Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
Isla and the Happily Ever After

I actually really like the new covers. The bottom two are the new paperback and I probably would have bought them to go along with my hardcovers on my shelf. What I hate is that my hardcovers won't match!

When Stephanie Perkins came to ATBF11 I was soo excited to meet her and get her to sign my Anna and Lola books and I was hoping when Isla was released to see her again so that she could sign that one. Of course, that will still happen...but still.

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

This is the cover change that made me so super mad. I LOVED the original covers. They stood out on shelves, they were different. The original Wolfsbane cover never even actually made it to shelves. They released it, then changed it before it went to print.

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

 I have the original Shatter Me sitting on my shelf still waiting to be read, so I don't know how much the new covers really go with the story, but this is one change that I am actually okay with.

I hate that it still happened in the middle of the series, but I like the new ones so much better. In a sea of pretty girls in pretty dresses on YA covers, the eyes stand out. JUST DO IT THAT WAY FIRST.

Blood Red Road by Moira Young

Another set of new covers that just blends with all the others. The original is so interesting. It just begs the question "where is she going?". The colors on the new ones are eye catching...but the cover models don't stand out or do anything to make me want to read the story.

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

 Sure the new covers are cool. They don't have some girl in some flouncy dress but they don't really catch your eye. The originals scream WE TAKE PLACE IN OUTER SPACE! WE HAVE ROMANCE! WE ARE AWESOME! 

Why change that?

Delirium by Lauren Oliver 

Another pretty girl on the cover....okay...so I know the original has a girl too...but at least the script was interesting.

Shades of London by Maureen Johnson

Original is creepy. The outline of the ghostly Jack the Ripper is awesome. New cover....meh. If it didn't have Maureen Johnson's                name on it, I probably wouldn't even pick it up.

Curse Workers by Holly Black

Another set of covers changed right in the middle of the series. The originals are so neat and actually look relevant to the story. The new ones are cool, but don't give me any hint as to what the story might be about and in a sea of dark covers there is nothing on them that stand out.

So since this seems to be an epidemic I think I've decided I am not going to be YA series in hardback anymore until all the stories in the series are released so that I am not trying to get my covers to match. I'll just wait and buy them in paperback, or buy them used so I don't feel like I've spent too much money on books the publishers have no problem changing at the drop of a hat.

What series cover has changed that really bugged you?

Do cover changes even matter to you?
How do you deal with it?

Tracy Deebs & Emily McKay Signing in Houston + GIVEAWAY!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!

presents

Hello everyone!

As you can see above Tracy Deebs aka Tessa Adams and Emily McKay will be signing at Barnes and Nobles in Houston/Humble Tx. 

Deerbrook Mall
20131 Highway 59
Humble, TX

We invite everyone to come out, chat and get your books signed by these wonderful authors. Tracy and Emily will bring lots of swag and would love to see all your lovely faces there so don't miss out!
 

For all you fans who can't make it to this event but would still like signed copies of books by Tracy and Emily you are in luck. A pre order sale has been set up HERE!

Deadline to order is March 7th midnight CST

GIVEAWAY

We are giving away an exclusive signed tote bag and one signed book of your choice just by helping us spread the word. Enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Triple Threat Blog Tour & Giveaway - Hysteria

"Mallory killed her boyfriend, Brian. She can't remember the details of that night but everyone knows it was self-defense, so she isn't charged. But Mallory still feels Brian's presence in her life. Is it all in her head? Or is it something more? In desperate need of a fresh start, Mallory is sent to Monroe, a fancy prep school where no one knows her . . . or anything about her past.But the feeling follows her, as do her secrets. Then, one of her new classmates turns up dead. As suspicion falls on Mallory, she must find a way to remember the details of both deadly nights so she can prove her innocence-to herself and others. In another riveting tale of life and death, Megan Miranda's masterful storytelling brings readers along for a ride to the edge of sanity and back again." - GoodReads.

Hardcover, 336 pages

Expected publication: February 5th 2013 by Walker Childrens

Source: Bloomsbury Children's Books and Walker Books for Young Readers Book Tour

Thank you, Bloomsbury & Walker!

I had been looking forward to reading this book for a while. While it seems like most people read Megan Miranda's first book Fracture already, I have not, so I wasn't really sure what to expect with this story.

I was pleasantly surprised with a thrilling story that kept me turning the pages as fast as I could.

Mallory killed her boyfriend, but she can't really remember what happened the night she stabbed him. Now everyone keeps their distance and treats her weird even though it was ruled self-defense. She can't even shake the feeling that Brian (her boyfriend) is still around, his presence haunting her.

Mallory's parents decide the best thing for her is to send her to the boarding school her dad went to.

She hates the idea but also likes it as a way to start fresh. No one there will know her story, right? Well, no. Secrets never stay buried long. Especially after one of her classmates winds up killed and everyone is looking at Mallory.

It was really neat reading this story from Mallory's perspective. At first you are made to believe that it was a cut and dry case. Something just went horribly wrong between her and her boyfriend and he wound up dead. Wrong. Things start happening and you can't tell if they are actually happening or if they are all just in Mallory's head.
There are flashbacks and hallucinations...or maybe they are really happening. It is a lot to try and keep up with but it was a good confusing. I liked being challenged to try and guess what was happening and what was going to happen.

Since basically the whole book is one mind trick after another, it was incredibly satisfying to see how everything came together in the end.

If you like psychological thrillers and books with boarding schools I would definitely recommend Hysteria.

The awesome people over at Bloomsbury have also allowed me to host a giveaway for this book.

All you have to do is leave a comment telling me why you want to read Hysteria. Make sure to also leave your email. If you don't want to post your email in a comment, email me your answer.

On March 6th I will randomly draw one winner for a copy of Hysteria. You will have 48 hrs to get back to me so that I can forward your information to Bloomsbury.

US only please.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher or author in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, altered my opinion of the story or my review.

Waiting on Wednesday {7}

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.


Divergent 3
by Veronica Roth

"The third book of the best-selling Divergent series that is slated for release on October 22 2013" - GoodReads.

There's no name and no cover yet, BUT, WE HAVE A RELEASE DATE!
And it's only 8 months away. THE EXCITEMENT CANNOT BE CONTAINED!
Except...between you and me...I haven't read Insurgent yet...because I am scared to read it. I loved Divergent so much that I'm afraid it won't stand up to it. But now that the 3rd on has a release date I'm going to have to cave and read Insurgent so that I will have time to emotionally prepare myself for this one.

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Free on Amazon-The Genius of Little Things

"Sixteen-year-old Tyler’s big dream of becoming a top immunologist could come crashing down if he doesn’t manage all of the little things right now. But when this obsessive-compulsive science geek confronts a school election, a demeaning job, needy tutees, a first girlfriend, and the possible extinction of honeybees, there are suddenly too many things to manage.

Tyler’s catastrophically humorous run for high school student council convinces the principal that he’s a troublemaker, while it wins him the admiration and desire of Rachel, a smart and iconoclastic reporter for the school paper. 
A new night job at a nursing home puts Tyler on a collision course with his new foster parents, a childless middle-aged couple with an agenda and a tragic past of their own. And the pain of his mother’s death becomes too big to ignore.

Set on the mean streets of suburban Las Vegas, The Genius of Little Things is about how you can’t always get what you want. But sometimes, well, you know..." - GoodReads.

By Larry Buhl

Kindle Edition, first, 235 pages

Published January 15th 2013

I was lucky enough to be contacted by Larry last week and asked to review his book on my blog. Though I have not yet read his book, I do know that Wednesday, February 13th, this book will be FREE on Amazon.

Find it HERE.

I'm pretty excited to get to this one so you should most definitely grab it while it's free!

Happy Reading!

Top 10 Favorite Romances

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovelies over at The Broke and The Bookish.

There is a good chance this will be my longest blog post ever....I don't think I will be able to keep this list at only ten since romances are my favorites. MY FAVORITES GUYS!

I don't know if I'll have room to list them all, but I promise I'll try and contain myself.

*warning. There is the possibility of spoilers if you haven't read a series. I do not say who anyone ends up with (if there is a love triangle) or anything like that and I only talk about the first book in a series. But I just wanted to give fair warning just in case I missed something*

       

1) Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet

There are so many misunderstandings in this story. But when all is sorted out neither party can deny their true feelings and the love prevails. Lizzie is just so outgoing and Mr. Darcy is just so shy. They are so opposite, yet compliment each other wonderfully. And his proposal. I feel like it tops most of the proposals you run across on youtube nowadays. 

2) Rose Hathaway and Dimitri Belikov

Who could blame Rose for falling for the handsome Russian man?

All of the trials that they go through but how they learn to rely on one another.

And Dimitri doesn't treat Rose like a helpless girl either. He knows she can kick butt and lets her. That's one of the best parts of their romance.

3) Belly Conklin and Conrad Fisher

This series...it's wonderful. I love how you get to watch Belly grow up and mature.

Pretty much what Belly did to try and get Conrad to notice her I could connect with since I remember doing just those same 

things when I was her age with the cute boy in my neighborhood.

And Conrad, so dark and reserved, but there is just so much more to him than he let's on.

<3 these two.

4) Hazel Graze and Augustus Waters

Um, yeah. Betchya didn't see that one coming huh?...since this book is everywhere on my blog.

Hazel and Gus. Realistic, sarcastic, and lovely.

Okay? Okay.

5) MacKayla Lane and Jericho Barrons

She's blonde, bubbly, and oh so naive. He's tall, dark, handsome, and involved in the magical world of the Fae. What could go wrong there?

I was hooked on these two from the get go.

6) Meghan Chase and Ash

Not only is this forbidden love, it is forbidden love done right.

How could that not become a favorite?

7) Lena Haloway and Alex

Another forbidden love done right.

8) Tris and Four

If you've read this you know what I'm talking about.

9) Amy and Elder

Falling in love in space. 

I love Amy awakens during Elder's time. I adore them together.

10) Rhine Ellery and Gabriel, Rhine and Linden

As much as I want Rhine and Gabriel to be together, I could see some potential with Linden.

I haven't read the sequel yet so I'm pretty curious to see who she does end up with and how they get together.

Lauren DeStefano sure does know how to keep a girl guessing.

Okay. I made myself keep it at 10. Next time there is a freebie TTT I will probably do another romance post...because, I love romances, as previously stated :p